Force of 28,270 to secure MPR session
Force of 28,270 to secure MPR session
JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said on
Tuesday 28,270 personnel from the police, the military and the
People's Security (Kamra) would be deployed to secure the
upcoming General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR) next month.
"The figure is for a stage one security level. The number will
be doubled if the situation reaches an emergency level,"
Rusdihardjo told reporters after addressing the National Police
leadership meeting at the Police Staff College (PTIK).
He said of the 28,270 deployed, 9,500 would come from the
police, 2,900 from the military and 12,000 from Kamra.
The police chief said it was normal preparation since it was
the first time this year the country would have an Assembly
session.
He acknowledged that the political tension in the country,
particularly in the capital, was rising.
Separately, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Ryamizard
Ryacudu asked the country's political elite not to encourage
their supporters to travel to the capital during the Assembly
general session.
He said the political elite should only issue statements that
calmed their supporters. "The political elite should not tell
their supporters to come to Jakarta during the MPR General
Session," he said at his office on Tuesday.
"Political leaders should understand that mobilizing the
masses would only cause trouble here."
He said he had received reports that some 100,000 backers of
various political parties would travel to the city to support
their respective parties during the MPR session, scheduled to be
held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 18.
"I've been hearing for the past two weeks that they (party
supporters) will be here during the General Session," the two-
star general said.
He did not state to which political parties the supporters
belonged. However, he said he told the leaders of Banser, the
security task force of Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing, Anshor, and
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) not
to get involved in security during the Assembly session.
"I've spoken to their leaders and told them that should the
party supporters enter the capital, they must not interfere with
security affairs in areas surrounding the MPR/House of
Representatives complex.
"It's the duty of the police and the Indonesian Military to
maintain security and order at the Senayan legislative
complex .... They should only get involved in protecting their
respective party secretariats and the surrounding neighborhoods,"
he said.
Ryamizard conceded the presence of large numbers of political
party supporters from outside Jakarta would directly or
indirectly affect security in the capital.
The military chief said he had made the necessary preparations
in anticipation of an influx of party supporters and possible
security disturbances in the city. "Currently, we're preparing
some 5,000 troops to back the city police in safeguarding the
capital.
"But their number will immediately be increased if the tension
escalates," he said, adding that troops from neighboring cities
and towns would be deployed to support the security operation.
Optimistic
Ryamizard was optimistic the police and TNI could control the
situation and maintain security and order in the city. "I predict
there will be no unrest during the MPR General Session."
He said he believed that Indonesians, including students, were
aware the country needed political stability to restore its
economy and continue with its development programs. "Our
President was democratically elected by a majority of MPR
members .... Therefore, there are no grounds to topple him."
He said he was not opposed to legislators questioning the
President during the General Session about a number of his
decisions and statements. "They (legislators) can point out his
(the President's) weaknesses and mistakes, but should not put him
on trial." (08/imn)